Some participants in the online workshop launching the 2020 POBI report on June 3 (Photo: VNA) Results of the 2020 POBI survey, conducted by the BudgetTransparency, Accountability and Participation (BTAP) Alliance,the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), and the Centrefor Development and Integration, were released via an online workshop on June3.
The survey showed that last year, 27 provincial-levellocalities fully publicised documents and information about the State budget,three localities more than 2019.
Meanwhile, those publishing relatively sufficientinformation numbered 29, up two localities. The numbers of those withinsufficient or little information stood at five and two, respectively decliningfour and one from 2019.
With 93.68 points, Vinh Long tops the 2020 rankings,followed by central Da Nang city (92.26 points) and southern Ba Ria-Vung Tauprovince (90.45 points). The worst performers are southern Binh Phuoc province(3.84 points) and the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak (23.41 points).
Former VEPR Director Nguyen Duc Thanh, a representative ofthe research group, said the POBI scores of localities were relatively low in thefirst years the survey was carried out, with the national average of 30 points,which meant almost no provinces and cities paid attention to budgettransparency as regulated in the 2015 Law on State Budget.
However, strong improvements have been seen in the followingyears when they realised their positions in the rankings, he noted, adding the nationalPOBI average surged to 50 points in 2018 and 65 points in 2019, indicating thatlocalities have been aware of improving their budget transparency.
Though in 2020 - the fourth year of the POBI survey, the improvementof the POBI scores tended to stagnate, many provinces that used to have verylow positions recorded considerable improvements while those with high scoresand “traditional” budget transparency maintained their stable performance,according to Thanh.
The POBI survey helps localities and central agenciesmeasure the transparency level in the State budget management. It also assiststhe country to have better financial and fiscal reforms, helping to achieve Goal16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals about transparency, accountability,and people’s participation.
The 2020 survey was funded by Oxfam Vietnam andKonrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Vietnam./.
With 93.68 points, Vinh Long tops the 2020 rankings,followed by central Da Nang city (92.26 points) and southern Ba Ria-Vung Tauprovince (90.45 points). The worst performers are southern Binh Phuoc province(3.84 points) and the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak (23.41 points).
Former VEPR Director Nguyen Duc Thanh, a representative ofthe research group, said the POBI scores of localities were relatively low in thefirst years the survey was carried out, with the national average of 30 points,which meant almost no provinces and cities paid attention to budgettransparency as regulated in the 2015 Law on State Budget.
However, strong improvements have been seen in the followingyears when they realised their positions in the rankings, he noted, adding the nationalPOBI average surged to 50 points in 2018 and 65 points in 2019, indicating thatlocalities have been aware of improving their budget transparency.
Though in 2020 - the fourth year of the POBI survey, the improvementof the POBI scores tended to stagnate, many provinces that used to have verylow positions recorded considerable improvements while those with high scoresand “traditional” budget transparency maintained their stable performance,according to Thanh.
The POBI survey helps localities and central agenciesmeasure the transparency level in the State budget management. It also assiststhe country to have better financial and fiscal reforms, helping to achieve Goal16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals about transparency, accountability,and people’s participation.
The 2020 survey was funded by Oxfam Vietnam andKonrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Vietnam./.
VNA
